If your employees have emails to communicate with clients and business associates, they might occasionally receive unusual messages in their inboxes. These may request sensitive information or include harmful attachments meant to steal files and documents. IT consulting services will provide the support you need to ensure your computers are safe. To help you guide your staff in case someone receives such correspondence, here are some tips for handling suspicious emails.

Do:

Inspect the source.

Spam emails are often highly deceptive. Though they may appear harmless, double-check the sender’s information before taking action. If the address includes random letters and numbers or is from an unrecognizable domain, move it to your junk or trash folder.

Use anti-spam programs.

Spam-blocking software is highly effective for flagging and filtering out potentially harmful emails. IT consulting firms typically recommend programs like SPAMfighter® and MailWasher®, which catch these messages before they reach your inbox and allow you to safely preview them.  

Don’t:

Open attachments.

When you notice messages from unknown addresses or with strange subject lines, don’t open any of the content inside them. They often contain links and file attachments that can download viruses and malware onto your computer. Once these programs are installed, which might happen without your knowledge, it may give criminals remote access to your device and files.

Provide personal information.

Never reply to suspicious emails. Unknown parties who ask for personal information, such as your Social Security Number, passport ID, or credit card info, are most likely scammers. If you receive a message claiming to be from a governmental agency or similar body, call the organization to confirm the legitimacy of the request. 

Protect your company’s technological and telecommunications systems with IT consulting from BEL Network Integration & Support. For over two decades, they have provided managed services, VoIP phone systems, cloud computing, server migration, and offsite backups to commercial clients in the area of Chester, VA. They also offer 24-hour support. Learn more about IT consulting online or call (804) 796-2631 to discuss your company’s needs.